What we want to achieve

In a world of large corporate enterprises and online shopping, locally owned and operated businesses have struggled to survive. Once lively small-town communities have been the hardest hit and San Anselmo is no exception, as many longstanding downtown businesses have recently closed their doors. After over 3 years of working closely together to build L’Appart Resto into a successful dining destination, Olivier and Alex jumped at the opportunity to purchase L’Appart in January of 2015. They are committed to ensuring this local restaurant remains a big part of San Anselmo Avenue and the surrounding community.

The mission of L’Appart is to create the type of environment where you feel just as comfortable stopping by for a light meal or a glass of wine as you do sharing a special night with a loved one, or celebrating with a group of family and friends.

Who we are

Olivier Criado, General Manager and Partner

Olivier Criado is General Manager and Partner at L’Appart Resto. Olivier grew up in La Celle Saint Cloud, a town of 22,000 residents, located between Paris and Versailles. His love of cooking and serving guests was formed at an early age as he joined his parents at the farmers market each week, helping them cook afterward.

Olivier’s excitement over working with fresh food and flavors led him to culinary school at l'Ecole Hotelière de Paris – Mederic. His career took off at a number of restaurants in Paris, including L’auberge Dab, a traditional French brasserie specializing in meats and fresh seafood in the 16 arrondissement, and Au Chien qui Fume, located near the Louvre and also focused on traditional French cooking and the freshest seafood. Olivier went on to own and manage his first restaurant, La Maison d'Aurore in Gargenville. Similar to L’Appart, the restaurant boasted a warm, intimate environment, featuring fresh foods, house-made products and a small, interesting wine list.

Invited to come to the United States to open L'Appart Resto in 2010, Olivier quickly fell in love with Marin’s beauty and outdoor activities and the town of San Anselmo, as well as local resident and wife Michelle and were married in the summer of 2015.

Alexandre De Jesus, Executive Chef and Partner

Raised in Paris by Portuguese parents, Alex was exposed to cooking that fused both unique French flavors and traditional Portuguese influences that can be tasted in such varied masterpieces as cassoulet, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, and lobster risotto.

Alexandre has enjoyed creating food to please his friends and family from very early on. On the advice of his mother, Alexandre decided to see if his destiny was as chef by accepting his first culinary job as a prep cook at La Coupole in Paris. More than liking being in the kitchen, he loved it, and his professional career was set.

Following five years in the kitchen in Paris, Alexandre moved to the Reunion Islands working on the line at La Saladiere where he learned the art of creole cooking and spices. Five years later, Alexandre moved to Cascais, Portugal and the kitchen of the Hotel Fortaleza Do Guincho. Alexandre's cooking became recognized in the area and he was next invited to join as chef at the world-class resort Villa Vita Parc, Armacao de Pera, Portugal.

Attracted to the United States since he was a young boy, Alexandre made the move to the Bay Area in 2005, with dreams of opening his own restaurant. With experience in several French restaurants in San Francisco and Marin County, Alexandre next found himself head chef at L’Appart Resto, where he fell in love with the town of San Anselmo, the nearby farmer’s markets which inspire his cooking today, and wife Sasha.